Exhibition Hall Progress

The Mason & Co stand is shown here following its removal from its original position in the Hall.

General overview of the Hall to show how it has opened up.

Glasgow 1297

The workshop team were shunting Glasgow 1297 today so that it can be prepared for the refurbished exhibition hall.

British Pathé Footage

TRAMS AND TRAM MUSEUM

Footage of the Museum dating from 1964 showing the trams, track, depots and workshop.  The footage is preceeded by some film of Victor Whitbread, a bus conductor with model trams running in his garden.

Snow prevents opening yesterday

The Museum couldn't open to visitors on Sunday 21st February due to the large amount of snow covering the site.

Additions to the vehicle collection

It has now been confirmed that alongside 'Balloon' 712 and 'Boat' 607 more cars from Blackpool will join the National Collection.

- Brush Railcoach 630

- 'Centenary' 648, the last of the 1980s 'Centenary' cars which started life as experimental car 651 being equiped with conventional equipment a few years later

- 'Jubilee' 762, the second of the one-man-operated double deckers rebuilt from Balloon cars in the 1970s (the UK's most modern double decker)

- 'Twin Car' 672/682, a tram and trailer unit dating from the mid 1960s

Craft workshops at Crich are in full swing for the half term holiday. On Tuesday visitors were able to make Green Man masks. Judging by the smiling masks, these visitors obviously enjoyed the colouring, cutting and sticking involved!

Exhibition Preparation

Work for the new 'Century of Trams' Exhibition is not just confined to the work in the Exhibition Hall. Much work for this project takes place in the offices with planning, logistics, documentation, meetings and negotiations all taking place on a regular basis.

One of the more interesting pieces of this work is the work taking place on Blackpool 'Balloon' 712 to bring it up to display standard.

The following photo shows 712 in the Blackpool Transport's paint shop on the 15th February where they are kindly repainting the tram in 1930s livery for us.

Half Term Opening

The Museum is now open for the half term holidays and 2010. We're open all of this half term week and will be open weekends only until the 29th March when the Museum will be open every day throughout the summer.

Glasgow 22 has been seen in service a few times this week and is pictured here heading down towards Town End.

Visitors board 22 at Town End. Trams are currently turning short at the Red Lion because of the ongoing Track Work at the terminus.

Latest news from the Workshop

Blackpool 167 being re-trucked.

159 with the new decency panels fitted.

Town End Excavations

The Library roof offers an excellent view of the work to create a wider pathway on the east side of the track at Town End

Supertram drawings

Just when we thought we had finished moving boxes around we have had to clear a space taken up by the non-tramway books removed from Winstan Bond's collection to make room for a full set of 'as built' drawings of the Sheffield Supertram network.

Regular volunteer, Val, clears the final bits and pieces away for volunteers Roger, Roger and Alan to bring in the three cabinets of drawings.

The drawings are hung within the cabinets and are in number order, showing every aspect of the construction of the system.

Snow showers

Work continues in the Exhibition Hall

The firebreak construction in the Exhibition Hall.

A view of 1115 which can now pass the stable after the work to re-size it

  

Haley Sharpe Discussing plans for the Exhibition Hall

Preparing for Half Term Opening

Preparations are well underway for Half Term opening this Saturday 13th February.  The Museum will be open all week and will be running craft workshops from Monday 15th to Friday 19th in the education room.  Children will have the chance to make their very own badge or to make and decorate their own ladybird or fantasy bug - so why not come along and join in the fun!  Have a look at the website for further details.

Earthworks

Whilst work on the track at Town End has been taking place the opportunity has been taken to do some landscaping.

This landscaping is to provide a smoother surface and wider walkway for our visitors at Town End as well as allowing staff easier access to the rear of the Police Box and other items in the area.

The return of winter?

This picture was taken at 5:10pm on Wednesday 3rd of February as staff were leaving the Museum.

Mr. Fred Legg

We have been sent this excellent portrait of Mr. Fred Legg by his family. Mr. Legg's safe driving of his tram for the York Corporation Tramways was the subject for recognition by the National Safety First Association on four consecutive years. The certificates awarded have been donated to the Museum and can be seen on this site at the posting on the 26th January.

Blackpool 712

It has been agreed that Blackpool Transport Services will repaint Balloon car 712 in the pre-war livery prior to delivery to the Museum.

Whilst not in 30s condition (712 being open top in the 30s!) the 1930s livery is being applied to show the streamlining effect of the livery on the vehicle. In this condition 712 will represent the ultimate in art-deco trams of the 1930s in the new Exhibition.

Weekend progress

The volunteer team working in the Exhibition Hall have now moved onto dismantling the 1905 lobby which will allow the contractor building the fire-break to continue his work.

The lobby without the canvas roof. The hall is looking very different now and many wouldn't recognise it!